Nick Ramsey, PhD

Collaborator, UMC Utrecht Brain Center

Professor Nick Ramsey collaborates on Wyss Center programs working to restore function for people with paralysis and communication for those locked-in as a result of ALS. He brings extensive knowledge of the BCI field as well as expertise in human intracranial brain-computer interface research and knowledge of associated ethical and regulatory frameworks. Nick is Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Utrecht (NL) where he leads a multidisciplinary research group. 

Nick has been active in the field of implantable human BCI systems since 2005 and runs the Utrecht Neuroprosthesis project at the University Medical Center of Utrecht where people with locked-in syndrome are provided with a brain implant to operate assistive technology software.

His BCI team conducts research on decoding brain signals obtained with subdural electrode grids, aiming to employ implantable BCI devices with 32 or more amplifiers to enable operation of a speech computer. Nick has a background in Psychology and Cognitive Neuroscience and has conducted extensive research on human brain function, using functional MRI and high-field MRI scanners.

After completion of his PhD in psychopharmacology (University Utrecht, NL), Nick spent several years developing functional MRI paradigms at NIH (USA). In 1995 he initiated an fMRI research lab in the Psychiatry Department of the University Medical Center of Utrecht, and became a Professor in the Neurosurgery department in 2008 where he started the combined electrocorticography-fMRI research lab he heads today.

Nick aims to translate neuroscientific findings to clinical applications, which has culminated in the Neuroprosthesis program and in a spin-off company that provides clinical fMRI to clinics (Braincarta), and which motivates his involvement in the research at the Wyss Center.

Nick was instrumental in founding the international BCI Society in 2015, of which he was President until 2019.

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Contributing to

Laying the foundations for future assistive devices
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Advance
An implantable brain-computer interface (BCI) to restore movement and communication
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Advance
Symposium: As the BCI community shifts its focus to clinical studies for patient benefit, join us to hear from researchers and companies working together at the forefront of BCI development discussing paths to translation and BCI home-use.
Wyss Center

21.11.2022

New Wyss Center whitepaper reveals first neural signals recorded by the ABILITY brain-computer interface system and the next steps to human clinical trials to restore communication and independence for people with severe paralysis.
Technology

12.10.2022

Project will push the boundaries of real-time brain-to-speech decoding with artificial intelligence algorithms and a miniaturized, wireless device.
Collaboration

25.08.2022

Two-year study paves the way for new technologies for people with severe paralysis
Technology

22.03.2022

Team

AureliCV

Viviana Aureli, MD

Collaborator, CHUV
21108528_WCPortrait_01

Maxime Baud, MD, PhD

Collaborator, Inselspital
joebetts-lacroix-01

Joe Betts-LaCroix, MSc

Collaborator, Saturn5
JocelynBloch-01

Jocelyne Bloch, MD

Collaborator, EPFL, CHUV
PhilippeColin2

Philippe Colin

Collaborator, EPFL
IMG_3562_MarcoCorniola

Marco Corniola, MD

Collaborator, University of Rennes
GCourtine

Grégoire Courtine, PhD

Collaborator, EPFL
dimitrios-01

Dimitrios Daskalou, MD, MSc

Collaborator, HUG
valerie-01

Valérie Dutoit, PhD

Collaborator, UNIGE
LucaGramatica

Luca Gramatica, MD, MSc

Collaborator, HUG
svenHaller-01

Sven Haller, MD

Collaborator, UNIGE
Valentin

Laura Harsan, PhD

Collaborator, ICube Laboratory, Strasbourg University, University Hospital of Strasbourg
Julieherve

Julie Hervé

Collaborator, EPFL
Holtmaat-resized

Anthony Holtmaat, PhD

Collaborator, UNIGE
Hummel

Friedhelm Hummel, MD, PhD

Collaborator, EPFL
enikocropped-01

Enikö Kövari, MD

Collaborator, HUG
StephanieLacour2

Stephanie Lacour, PhD

Collaborator, EPFL
C_Lamy_20200701_0006

Christophe Lamy, MD, PhD

Collaborator, UNIGE
2111_WC-Portrait_02

Hilal A. Lashuel, PhD

Collaborator, EPFL
luscher-01

Christian Luscher, MD, PhD

Collaborator, UNIGE
MacenzieMathis

Mackenzie Mathis, PhD

Collaborator, EPFL
Megevan-resized

Pierre Mégevand, MD, PhD

Collaborator, HUG, UNIGE
ShahanMomjian

Shahan Momjian, MD

Collaborator, HUG
Guerot

Gernot Müller-Putz, Dipl.-Ing. Dr.techn

Collaborator, Institute of Neural Engineering, Graz University of Technology
Valentin

Michel Neunlist, PhD

Collaborator, University of Nantes, CHU Nantes, Inserm, TENS, The Enteric Nervous System in Gut and Brain Diseases, IMAD
21108538_WCPortrait_02

Claudio Pollo, MD, PhD

Collaborator, INSELSPITAL
PhilippeRenaud_web-resized-2

Philippe Renaud, PhD

Collaborator, EPFL
Nicolas-01

Nicolas Renier, PhD

Collaborator, Paris Brain Institute
Sam Rodriques

Sam Rodriques, PhD

Collaborator, Saturn5
kasparschindler-01

Kaspar Schindler, MD, PhD

Collaborator, University Hospital Bern
BernardSchneider2

Bernard Schneider, PhD

Collaborator, EPFL
DaveSegar-01

Dave Segar, PhD

Collaborator, Saturn5
Pascal_Senn-01

Pascal Senn, MD, PhD

Collaborator, HUG
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Dimitri Van De Ville, PhD

Collaborator, EPFL, UNIGE
silvia

Silvia Marchesotti, PhD

Collaborator, UNIGE